US11293575B2 - Fluid transfer connector plug, fluid transfer connector socket, fluid transfer connector, and method for connecting fluid transfer connector - Google Patents
Fluid transfer connector plug, fluid transfer connector socket, fluid transfer connector, and method for connecting fluid transfer connector Download PDFInfo
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- US11293575B2 US11293575B2 US16/441,328 US201916441328A US11293575B2 US 11293575 B2 US11293575 B2 US 11293575B2 US 201916441328 A US201916441328 A US 201916441328A US 11293575 B2 US11293575 B2 US 11293575B2
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- plug
- socket
- keys
- fluid transfer
- key
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Classifications
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16L—PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16L37/00—Couplings of the quick-acting type
- F16L37/60—Couplings of the quick-acting type with plug and fixed wall housing
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16L—PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16L37/00—Couplings of the quick-acting type
- F16L37/28—Couplings of the quick-acting type with fluid cut-off means
- F16L37/30—Couplings of the quick-acting type with fluid cut-off means with fluid cut-off means in each of two pipe-end fittings
- F16L37/32—Couplings of the quick-acting type with fluid cut-off means with fluid cut-off means in each of two pipe-end fittings at least one of two lift valves being opened automatically when the coupling is applied
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16L—PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16L37/00—Couplings of the quick-acting type
- F16L37/08—Couplings of the quick-acting type in which the connection between abutting or axially overlapping ends is maintained by locking members
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16L—PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16L37/00—Couplings of the quick-acting type
- F16L37/22—Couplings of the quick-acting type in which the connection is maintained by means of balls, rollers or helical springs under radial pressure between the parts
- F16L37/23—Couplings of the quick-acting type in which the connection is maintained by means of balls, rollers or helical springs under radial pressure between the parts by means of balls
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16L—PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16L37/00—Couplings of the quick-acting type
- F16L37/24—Couplings of the quick-acting type in which the connection is made by inserting one member axially into the other and rotating it to a limited extent, e.g. with bayonet action
- F16L37/244—Couplings of the quick-acting type in which the connection is made by inserting one member axially into the other and rotating it to a limited extent, e.g. with bayonet action the coupling being co-axial with the pipe
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16L—PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16L2201/00—Special arrangements for pipe couplings
- F16L2201/40—Special arrangements for pipe couplings for special environments
Definitions
- the present disclosure relates to a fluid transfer connector plug, a fluid transfer connector socket, and a fluid transfer connector to transfer, for example, liquid chemicals or gas for use in semiconductor manufacturing apparatuses, and also relates to a method for connecting the fluid transfer connector.
- a fluid transfer connector is used to transfer a fluid (liquid chemical or gas) for use in semiconductor manufacturing apparatuses, as disclosed in, for example, PTL 1.
- the fluid transfer connector may include a socket and a plug.
- the socket may be fixed to a building in which a buffer tank for temporarily storing the fluid is installed.
- the plug may be fixed to a distal end of a hose extended from a tanker truck. Connecting the plug to the socket enables the fluid to be transferred from the tanker truck to the buffer tank.
- a unique combination of a plug and a socket is provided for each individual kind of fluids.
- a key and a key groove for preventing wrong connection are used.
- the key and the key groove can work sufficiently as long as they are fixed at predetermined positions on the plug and the socket.
- a hose to which the plug is fixed has a high rigidity (e.g., when the hose has an inner diameter of 25 mm or more)
- a large force is required to rotate the plug with the hose and thereby engage the key with the key groove, which is burden on workers.
- the present disclosure has been made in view of the above circumstances, and aims to provide a fluid transfer connector plug, a fluid transfer connector socket, a fluid transfer connector, and a method for connecting the fluid transfer connector each of which allows to easily engage the key with the key groove.
- a fluid transfer connector plug comprising: a plug body having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end allowing a hose to be fixed thereto, the distal end being removably connected to a socket, the plug body including a fluid channel communicating with the hose; a ring body on an outer periphery of the plug body, the ring body being rotatable relative to the plug body; and two or more keys or two or more key grooves on the ring body.
- the plug is inserted into the socket to connect them, whereby a fluid channel communicates between the plug and the socket.
- the ring body includes two or more keys or two or more key grooves. This ensures a one-to-one correspondence between the plug and the socket, helping to avoid wrong connection.
- the plug body includes on its outer periphery the ring body rotatable relative to the plug body. This eliminates the need for rotating the plug body and, moreover, the hose fixed to the plug body, in order to position the keys or the key grooves with respect to the key grooves or the keys on the socket. This can relieve workers of a heavy burden of rotating the plug with the hose to position the keys with respect to the key grooves.
- the hose used to transfer a liquid chemical from the tanker truck is thick (e.g., inner diameter of 25 mm or more), and accordingly the work can be extremely easy.
- the ring body may be rotatable in a predetermined angle range; alternatively, the ring body may be 360° revolvable.
- the fluid transfer connector plug further comprises a main key or a main key groove, the main key or the main key groove having a larger width in the rotational direction of the ring body than a width of each of the other keys or the key grooves in the rotational direction of the ring body.
- One of the keys or the key grooves has a larger width in the rotational direction than that of the other keys or the other key grooves, making it recognizable as a main key or a main key groove. This allows to easily position the ring body in the rotational direction by using the main key or the main key groove as a reference.
- a fluid transfer connector socket connected with the aforementioned fluid transfer connector plug, and the socket comprises key grooves or keys respectively corresponding to the keys or the key grooves of the plug.
- the socket includes the key grooves or the keys respectively corresponding to the keys or the key grooves of the aforementioned plug. This ensures correspondence between the socket and the plug.
- a fluid transfer connector comprising the aforementioned fluid transfer connector plug and the aforementioned fluid transfer connector socket.
- the plug is connected to the socket by use of the keys or the key grooves on the rotating ring body.
- this fluid transfer connector can avoid wrong connection by easily engaging the keys with the key grooves for connection of the plug.
- a method for connecting a fluid transfer connector comprising: connecting a fluid transfer connector plug to a fluid transfer connector socket, the plug comprising: a plug body including a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end allowing a hose to be fixed thereto, the distal end being removably connected to the socket, the plug body including a fluid channel communicating with the hose; a ring body on an outer periphery of the plug body, the ring body being rotatable relative to the plug body; and two or more keys or two or more key grooves on the ring body, the socket comprising key grooves or keys respectively corresponding to the keys or the key grooves of the plug, wherein the connecting the plug to the socket is performed after engaging the keys or the key grooves of the plug with the key grooves or the keys of the socket by rotating the ring body.
- the ring body is rotated to engage the keys with the key grooves before the plug is connected to the socket. This allows for easy engagement of the keys with the key grooves for connection of the plug.
- the plug comprises a main key or a main key groove, the main key or the main key groove having a larger width in the rotational direction of the ring body than a width of each of the keys or the key grooves in the rotational direction of the ring body
- the socket comprises a main key groove or a main key respectively corresponding to the main key or the main key groove of the plug
- the connecting the plug to the socket is performed after rotating the ring body such that the main key or the main key groove of the plug is positioned at a vertically upper position.
- One of the keys or the key grooves has a larger width in the rotational direction than that of the other keys or the other key grooves, making it recognizable as a main key or a main key groove. This allows to easily position the ring body in the rotational direction by using the main key or the main key groove as a reference. Further, positioning the main key or the main key groove at a vertically upper position allows a worker to easily recognize the main key or the main key groove from above. The worker can thus connect the plug without feeling any trouble.
- the plug body includes on its outer periphery the ring body rotatable relative to the plug body, and the ring body includes the keys or the key grooves. This allows for easy engagement of the keys or the key grooves with corresponding key grooves or keys.
- FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fluid transfer connector according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
- FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a socket when its lid is closed.
- FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a plug when its key plate is rotated.
- FIG. 4 is a longitudinal-sectional view of the plug.
- FIG. 5A is a longitudinal-sectional view illustrating a state where a sleeve restricts movement of lock balls.
- FIG. 5B is a longitudinal-sectional view illustrating a state where the sleeve permits movement of the lock balls.
- FIG. 6 is a front view illustrating positions of keys on the plug of FIG. 4 .
- FIG. 7 is a front view illustrating optional positions of the keys.
- FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating insertion of a distal end of the plug into an insertion port of the socket.
- FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating engagement of the keys of the plug with key grooves of the socket.
- FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating a pre-transfer washing process with the plug at a first forward position.
- FIG. 11 is a perspective view illustrating a fluid transfer process with the plug at a second forward position.
- FIG. 12 is a perspective view illustrating a post-transfer washing process with the plug at the first forward position.
- FIG. 1 depicts a plug 3 and a socket 5 according to the present embodiment.
- the plug 3 and the socket 5 are used as a fluid transfer connector 1 .
- Examples of fluids used herein include liquid chemicals and gas for use in semiconductor manufacturing apparatuses.
- the socket 5 is fixed on a wall of a building, and one end of a pipe 6 is connected to a rear end of the socket 5 .
- the other end of the pipe 6 is connected to a buffer tank (not shown in the figure) installed inside the building.
- the socket 5 includes an insertion port 8 at its front end (left end in FIG. 5 ) to allow for insertion of the plug 3 .
- the insertion port 8 is formed inside a cylindrical insertion cylinder 10 .
- At a distal end of the insertion cylinder 10 there are multiple key grooves 11 formed by cutting out a part of the insertion cylinder 10 .
- the key grooves 11 are arranged at predetermined intervals in a circumferential direction of the insertion cylinder 10 .
- a key groove 11 a located at a vertically upper position serves as a main key groove, having a larger circumferential width than that of the other key grooves 11 .
- the insertion cylinder 10 holds multiple lock balls 9 (see FIG. 4 ) spaced from each other in the circumferential direction.
- the lock balls 9 are used to fix the plug 3 to the socket 5 .
- the socket body 13 Located at a rear side (right side in FIG. 1 ) of the insertion cylinder 10 is a socket body 13 .
- the socket body 13 has a cylindrical shape with a horizontal central axis and includes therein a valve body 13 a (see FIG. 5A etc.) for opening and closing a channel.
- a front fixing plate 15 and a rear fixing plate 16 are fixed to front and rear sides, respectively, of the socket body 13 .
- the fixing plates 15 , 16 are rectangular, vertically upright plates. Legs 17 are disposed below the fixing plates 15 , 16 to fix the socket body 13 onto an installation surface.
- Four support shaft bodies 18 are extending in a horizontal direction so as to penetrate four corners of each of the fixing plates 15 , 16 .
- each support shaft body 18 is fixed to a front support plate 20 and a rear support plate 21 , respectively.
- the support plates 20 , 21 are rectangular, vertically upright plates.
- the front support plate 20 supports the aforementioned insertion cylinder 10 .
- Each support shaft body 18 is mounted with a cylinder 23 .
- Each cylinder 23 is fixed between the front fixing plate 15 and the rear fixing plate 16 .
- An air supply pipe 24 is connected to each cylinder 23 , and air pressure supplied from the air supply pipe 24 causes the corresponding support shaft body 18 to reciprocate in the axial direction relative to the cylinder 23 . This in turn causes the insertion cylinder 10 , which is supported by the front support plate 20 , to move closer to or away from the socket body 13 .
- a lid 27 is attached to a first support shaft body 18 a , which is one of the two upper support shaft bodies 18 .
- a lid driving shaft body 18 a 1 axially penetrates the inside of the first support shaft body 18 a , and the lid 27 is fixed to a front end of the lid driving shaft body 18 a 1 .
- the lid driving shaft body 18 a 1 is reciprocated in forward and backward directions (the axial direction) and rotated around the axis by a first actuator 29 a provided at a rear end of the first support shaft body 18 a . Operation of the first actuator 29 a is controlled by a controller (not shown in the figure).
- the lid 27 is used to close the insertion port 8 when the fluid transfer connector 1 is not in use and the plug 3 is removed from the socket 5 .
- FIG. 2 illustrates the lid 27 when it is closed. Closing the insertion port 8 with the lid 27 allows to prevent contamination of the fluid. Additionally, closing the insertion port 8 with the lid 27 during non-use of the fluid transfer connector 1 allows to prevent contamination of the channel between the lid 27 and the valve body inside the socket body 13 .
- a sleeve driving plate 19 is attached to a second support shaft body 18 b , which is the other of the two upper support shaft bodies 18 , and a third support shaft body 18 c , which is located diagonally to the second support shaft body 18 b across the insertion cylinder 10 .
- the sleeve driving plate 19 is fixed to front ends of a sleeve driving plate shaft body 18 b 1 penetrating the second support shaft body 18 b along the central axis and a sleeve driving plate shaft body 18 c 1 penetrating the third support shaft body 18 c along the central axis.
- the sleeve driving plate shaft bodies 18 b 1 , 18 c 1 are reciprocated in forward and backward directions (the axial direction) by a second actuator 29 b and a third actuator 29 c , respectively, provided at the respective rear ends of the support shaft bodies 18 b 1 , 18 c 1 . Operation of the actuators 29 b , 29 c are controlled by the controller (not shown in the figure).
- the sleeve driving plate 19 is a substantially diamond-shaped plate having an opening at the center thereof.
- the opening of the sleeve driving plate 19 allows for insertion of a distal end 22 a of a cylindrical sleeve 22 .
- the sleeve 22 is positioned to cover an outer periphery of the insertion cylinder 10 and reciprocates in the axial direction relative to the insertion cylinder 10 .
- the sleeve driving plate 19 is operative to displace the sleeve 22 when the plug 3 is unfixed and removed from the socket 5 .
- the sleeve 22 restricts the lock balls 9 from moving radially outward as shown in FIG. 5A .
- the sleeve driving plate 19 is drawn toward the front support plate 20 (to the right side in FIG. 5B ) to displace the sleeve 22 .
- This permits the lock balls 9 to move radially outward and unlocks the plug 3 .
- the lock balls 9 are rolled into, and engaged with, a recess 39 a of a first fixing ring 39 as the plug 3 is inserted into the insertion cylinder 10 .
- the sleeve driving plate 19 is not operative.
- the lock balls 9 , the sleeve 22 and other relevant elements thus constitute a locking mechanism that locks the plug 3 to the insertion cylinder 10 , namely the socket 5 .
- a fourth support shaft body 18 d is disposed below the second support shaft body 18 b and laterally to the third support shaft body 18 c .
- a sensor wire 18 d 1 is connected from the inside of the fourth support shaft body 18 d to the inside of the sleeve 22 .
- a sensor (not shown in the figure) composed of a pair of a light-emitting element (e.g., an LED) and a light-receiving element. The sensor detects whether the plug 3 is inserted into an appropriate position within the insertion cylinder 10 . Outputs from the sensor are transmitted to the controller (not shown in the figure) through the sensor wire 18 d 1 .
- the controller may be composed of, for example, a central processing unit (CPU), a random-access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), and a computer-readable storage medium.
- CPU central processing unit
- RAM random-access memory
- ROM read only memory
- the controller loads this program onto the RAM or other memories to execute information processing and calculations, whereby various functions are provided.
- the program may be pre-installed on the ROM or other storage media, may be provided in a computer-readable storage medium, or may be provided via wired or wireless communication means. Examples of the computer-readable storage medium include a magnetic disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, and a semiconductor memory.
- the plug 3 is substantially cylindrical and includes a channel inside thereof to permit the flow of fluid.
- One end of a hose 4 is connected to a proximal end (the left side in FIG. 1 ) of the plug 3 .
- the other end of the hose 4 is fixed to a tanker truck (not shown in the figure).
- the hose 4 has an inner diameter of 25 mm or more, preferably 50 mm or more.
- a key plate (ring body) 30 is attached to a rear part of the plug 3 .
- the key plate 30 is in the form of an endless ring.
- keys 32 protruding to the distal end side (the right side in FIG. 1 ).
- One of the multiple keys 32 is a main key 32 a having a larger circumferential width than that of the other keys 32 .
- the key plate 30 is revolvable around the axis relative to a plug body 3 A. This allows workers to manually rotate the key plate 30 to position the main key 32 a at a vertically upper position, which is a desired position, as shown in FIG. 3 .
- FIG. 4 is a longitudinal-sectional view of the plug 3 .
- the lower part of FIG. 4 depicts the lock ball 9 , the insertion cylinder 10 , the sleeve 22 and the sleeve driving plate 19 , which are components of the socket 5 .
- the plug body 3 A includes a distal cylinder 33 , an intermediate cylinder 34 , and a proximal cylinder 35 in this order from its distal end (the right side in FIG. 4 ). These cylinders 33 , 34 and 35 are connected along the same plug central axis L 1 , forming a channel inside of them to permit the flow of fluid.
- a valve body 33 a is contained in the distal cylinder 33 .
- the valve body 33 a is pushed by a spring 33 b toward a distal end side of the distal cylinder 33 . This causes the valve body 33 a to close a distal opening of the distal cylinder 33 .
- the valve body 33 a is provided with a protrusion 33 c at the center of the distal end thereof.
- the protrusion 33 c protrudes toward the distal end side along the plug central axis L 1 .
- the protrusion 33 c abuts against an opposing protrusion (not shown in the figure) of the valve body of the socket 5 .
- a proximal end (left side) of the distal cylinder 33 and a distal end of the intermediate cylinder 34 are faced to each other and connected in a fitting-in manner.
- An O-ring 37 is disposed between the distal cylinder 33 and the intermediate cylinder 34 to seal them liquid-tight or air-tight.
- a first fixing ring 39 covers an outer periphery of the proximal end of the distal cylinder 33 .
- the first fixing ring 39 includes the circumferential recess 39 a along its outer periphery.
- the first fixing ring 39 includes a stepped shoulder 39 b on its inner periphery.
- the shoulder 39 b is engaged with a large-diameter part at the proximal end of the distal cylinder 33 .
- the first fixing ring 39 includes a female threaded part 39 c on its proximal inner periphery.
- a second fixing ring 41 almost entirely covers an outer periphery of the intermediate cylinder 34 .
- the second fixing ring 41 includes a stepped shoulder 41 b on its inner periphery.
- the shoulder 41 b is engaged with a large-diameter part at a distal end of the intermediate cylinder 34 .
- the second fixing ring 41 includes a male threaded part 41 c on its distal outer periphery. Screwing the male threaded part 41 c of the second fixing ring 41 into the female threaded part 39 c of the first fixing ring 39 fixes the distal cylinder 33 and the intermediate cylinder 34 with each other.
- the male threaded part 41 c of the second fixing ring 41 is screwed with a lock nut 43 from the proximal end side.
- the lock nut 43 is fixed at a position abutting against the proximal end of the first fixing ring 39 .
- the lock nut 43 is positioned within the inner periphery of the key plate 30 .
- a proximal end of the lock nut 43 is located on the distal end side relative to a proximal end of the key plate 30 . This results in the lock nut 43 being accommodated in the key plate 30 , so that the lock nut 43 does not protrude from the proximal end of the key plate 30 .
- the distal outer periphery of the lock nut 43 is smaller in diameter than its proximal outer periphery. This forms a groove between the lock nut 43 and the proximal end of the first fixing ring 39 , and an inward-protruding, small-diameter part 30 a at the distal end of the key plate 30 is inserted into the groove.
- the length of the small-diameter part 30 a in the plug central axis L 1 direction is smaller than that of the groove into which the small-diameter part 30 a is inserted. This loose-fitting of the small-diameter part 30 a of the key plate 30 in the groove allows the key plate 30 to move freely in the revolution direction while regulating the position of the key plate 30 in the plug central axis L 1 direction.
- Each key 32 is fixed to the key plate 30 with a bolt 45 .
- the bolt 45 is inserted into the key plate 30 and the key 32 from the proximal end side to the distal end side. Fixing with the bolt 45 is not the only method to fix the key 32 ; for example, the key plate 30 and the key 32 may be integrally formed.
- a proximal end of the intermediate cylinder 34 and a distal end of the proximal cylinder 35 are faced to each other and connected in a fitting-in manner.
- An O-ring 47 is disposed between the intermediate cylinder 34 and the proximal cylinder 35 to seal them liquid-tight or air-tight.
- a flange 41 a of the second fixing ring 41 at its proximal end is fixed to a proximal flange 49 with bolts 50 .
- the proximal flange 49 is engaged with a proximal outer periphery of the proximal cylinder 35 and fixed in this state.
- the bolts 50 are screwed into the proximal flange 49 . This fixes the proximal cylinder 35 to the intermediate cylinder 34 and the distal cylinder 33 .
- Each fixing bolt 52 penetrates a hose fixing flange 53 for fixing the hose 4 and has its end engaged with a nut 51 . This fixes the hose fixing flange 53 to the proximal flange 49 , whereby the hose 4 is fixed to the plug 3 .
- FIG. 6 illustrates angle positions of the multiple keys 32 in the circumferential direction.
- the figure shows three keys 32 .
- the main key 32 a is fixed to the key plate 30 .
- FIG. 6 depicts the key plate 30 when it is revolved in the circumferential direction so as to situate the main key 32 a at the twelve-o'clock position.
- a first sub-key 32 b is fixed to the key plate 30 at a position between the twelve-o'clock position and the nine-o'clock position.
- a second sub-key 32 c is fixed to the key plate 30 at the six-o'clock position.
- the main key 32 a has a circumferential width about twice as large as that of the first sub-key 32 b and the second sub-key 32 c .
- the first sub-key 32 b and the second sub-key 32 c have the same circumferential width, though they may have a different width.
- Angle positions of the first sub-key 32 b and the second sub-key 32 c relative to the main key 32 a are changeable according to the kind of fluid used. Specifically, the position of the first sub-key 32 b is selectable from positions (A) to (C) shown in FIG. 7 according to a material (metal, resin etc.) of a member of each of the plug 3 and the socket 5 facing the channel for the fluid. Also, the position of the second sub-key 32 c is selectable from positions ( 01 ) to ( 15 ) according to the kind (chemical species) of fluid. In this way, the positions of the keys 32 are individually selectable according to the material of the plug 3 and the socket 5 and the kind of fluid.
- the plug 3 is first positioned to face the socket 5 . Then, as shown in FIG. 3 , the key plate 30 is manually rotated by a worker and positioned such that the main key 32 a comes at a position easily visible by the worker from above, namely the vertically upper position.
- the distal end of the plug 3 is inserted into the insertion port 8 of the socket 5 , as shown in FIG. 8 .
- Inserting the plug 3 into the socket 5 further in the axial direction results in the keys 32 mating and engaging with the corresponding key grooves 11 on the insertion cylinder 10 of the socket 5 , as shown in FIG. 9 .
- the successful mating and engagement of the keys 32 with the key grooves 11 means that the plug 3 is the right type for the socket 5 , helping to avoid wrong connection. Without the mating between the keys 32 and the key grooves 11 , the plug 3 cannot be pushed against the socket 5 up to a connecting position. This enables the worker to recognize that the plug 3 is not the right type for the socket 5 .
- the plug 3 is displaced from the position shown in FIG. 9 to a first forward position P 1 by being pulled toward the socket body 13 .
- this is automatically done under instructions of the controller by axially moving the support shaft bodies 18 with air supplied from the air supply pipes 24 to the corresponding cylinders 23 .
- a space between the distal end of the plug and the socket 5 is washed with pure water, and then dried with inert gas, such as nitrogen.
- the valve body 33 a (see FIG. 4 ) of the plug 3 and the valve body 13 a of the socket 5 are at closed positions, blocking the respective channels.
- the plug 3 is displaced from the first forward position P 1 shown in FIG. 10 to a second forward position P 2 by being pulled further toward the socket body 13 .
- this is automatically done under instructions of the controller by axially moving the support shaft bodies 18 with air supplied from the air supply pipes 24 to the corresponding cylinders 23 .
- the plug 3 can be advanced from an initial position P 0 of FIG. 9 to the first forward position P 1 of FIG. 10 and the second forward position P 2 of FIG. 11 in two steps.
- the protrusion 33 c (see FIG. 4 ) of the valve body 33 a of the plug 3 abuts against the protrusion of the valve body 13 a of the socket 5 to push against each other, which displaces the valve bodies 33 a , 13 a to open positions to open the respective channels.
- This allows the fluid to be transferred from the tanker truck to the buffer tank in the building via the fluid transfer connector 1 , as indicated by arrows A 3 and A 4 .
- the plug 3 upon completion of the fluid transfer, the plug 3 is retracted to the first forward position P 1 as explained in FIG. 10 . Then, the space between the distal end of the plug 3 and the socket 5 is washed with pure water, as indicated by allows A 1 and A 2 , and then dried with inert gas, such as nitrogen.
- inert gas such as nitrogen.
- the valve body 33 a see FIG. 4 ) of the plug 3 and the valve body 13 a of the socket 5 are at closed positions, blocking the respective channels.
- the plug 3 Upon completion of the post-transfer washing step shown in FIG. 12 , the plug 3 is retracted to the initial position P 0 shown in FIG. 9 , and under instructions of the controller, the sleeve driving plate 19 is driven to move the sleeve 22 toward the distal end of the plug 3 (toward the right side in FIG. 12 ). This makes the plug 3 unlocked from the lock balls 9 , and the plug 3 is thus removed from the socket 5 .
- the present embodiment provides the following functions and effects.
- the key plate 30 includes two or more keys 32 . This ensures a one-to-one correspondence between the plug 3 and the socket 5 , helping to avoid wrong connection.
- the first fixing ring 39 includes on its outer periphery the key plate 30 that is revolvable relative to the plug body 3 A.
- the hose 4 used to transfer a liquid chemical from the tanker truck is thick (e.g., inner diameter of 25 mm or more) and rigid, and accordingly the work can be extremely easy.
- One of the keys 32 has a larger circumferential width than that of the other keys 32 , making it recognizable as the main key 32 a . This allows to easily position the key plate 30 in the rotational direction by using the main key 32 a as a reference.
- Positioning the main key 32 a at the vertically upper position allows the worker to easily recognize the main key 32 a from above. The worker can thus connect the plug without feeling any trouble.
- the key plate 30 is revolvable.
- the present disclosure is, however, not limited to this embodiment; the key plate 30 only need to be rotatable in a predetermined angle range required for positioning of the keys 32 , which may be less than 360°.
- the keys 32 are provided on the plug 3 and the key grooves 11 are provided on the socket 5 .
- This arrangement may be reversed such that the key grooves are provided on the plug 3 and the keys are provided on the socket 5 .
- the fluid to be transferred is preferably liquid rather than gas, but the present disclosure is of course applicable to gas.
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Abstract
Description
- 1 Fluid transfer connector
- 3 Plug
- 3A Plug body
- 4 Hose
- 5 Socket
- 6 Pipe
- 8 Insertion port
- 9 Lock ball
- 10 Insertion cylinder
- 11 Key groove
- 11 a Main key groove
- 13 Socket body
- 13 a Valve body
- 15 Front fixing plate
- 16 Rear fixing plate
- 17 Leg
- 18 Support shaft body
- 18 a First support shaft body
- 18 a 1 Lid driving shaft body
- 18 b Second support shaft body
- 18
b 1 Sleeve driving plate shaft body - 18 c Third support shaft body
- 18
c 1 Sleeve driving plate shaft body - 18 d Fourth support shaft body
- 18
d 1 Sensor wire - 19 Sleeve driving plate
- 20 Front support plate
- 21 Rear support plate
- 22 Sleeve
- 22 a Distal end
- 23 Cylinder
- 24 Air supply pipe
- 27 Lid
- 29 a First actuator
- 29 b Second actuator
- 29 c Third actuator
- 30 Key plate (ring body)
- 30 a Small-diameter part
- 32 Key
- 32 a Main key
- 33 Distal cylinder
- 33 a Valve body
- 33 b Spring
- 33 c Protrusion
- 34 Intermediate cylinder
- 35 Proximal cylinder
- 37 O-ring
- 39 First fixing ring
- 39 a Recess
- 39 b Shoulder
- 39 c Female threaded part
- 41 Second fixing ring
- 41 a Flange
- 41 b Shoulder
- 41 c Male threaded part
- 43 Lock nut
- 45 Bolt
- 47 O-ring
- 49 Proximal flange
- 50 Bolt
- 51 Nut
- 52 Fixing bolt
- 53 Hose fixing flange
- L1 Plug central axis
- P0 Initial position
- P1 First forward position
- P2 Second forward position
Claims (8)
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
JPJP2018-133180 | 2018-07-13 | ||
JP2018133180A JP7168972B2 (en) | 2018-07-13 | 2018-07-13 | FLUID TRANSFER CONNECTOR PLUG, FLUID TRANSFER CONNECTOR SOCKET, FLUID TRANSFER CONNECTOR, AND FLUID TRANSFER CONNECTOR METHOD |
JP2018133180 | 2018-07-13 |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20200018434A1 US20200018434A1 (en) | 2020-01-16 |
US11293575B2 true US11293575B2 (en) | 2022-04-05 |
Family
ID=69139100
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US16/441,328 Active 2039-09-16 US11293575B2 (en) | 2018-07-13 | 2019-06-14 | Fluid transfer connector plug, fluid transfer connector socket, fluid transfer connector, and method for connecting fluid transfer connector |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US11293575B2 (en) |
JP (1) | JP7168972B2 (en) |
KR (1) | KR20200007654A (en) |
TW (1) | TWI834669B (en) |
Families Citing this family (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JP7150311B2 (en) * | 2018-07-27 | 2022-10-11 | サーパス工業株式会社 | Fluid transfer connector |
Citations (10)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2935338A (en) * | 1957-05-31 | 1960-05-03 | Bastian Blessing Co | Quick coupling |
US3287031A (en) * | 1964-09-21 | 1966-11-22 | William H Simmons | Indexed keyed connection |
US4139222A (en) * | 1977-04-22 | 1979-02-13 | Santa Fe International Corp. | Quick connect/disconnect coupling assembly |
US4211439A (en) * | 1978-07-26 | 1980-07-08 | Moldestad Jon P | Safety device for hose connections |
US6527305B1 (en) * | 1998-11-06 | 2003-03-04 | Kenneth Robert Smith | Fuel line coupling system |
US7014221B2 (en) * | 2002-12-26 | 2006-03-21 | Usui Kokusai Sangyo Kaishi Limited | Joint for piping |
US20090272450A1 (en) | 2005-12-05 | 2009-11-05 | Masahiro Hasunuma | Plug for fluid-transfer coupling device |
US9157560B2 (en) * | 2010-12-10 | 2015-10-13 | LinkTech Quick Couplings Incorporated | Coupling assembly |
US9291292B2 (en) * | 2006-03-02 | 2016-03-22 | Eaton Corporation | Keyed coupling assembly and kit |
US10711930B2 (en) * | 2009-12-09 | 2020-07-14 | Nordson Corporation | Releasable connection assembly |
Family Cites Families (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JPS5138830B2 (en) | 1973-08-30 | 1976-10-23 | ||
US4111514A (en) * | 1977-06-23 | 1978-09-05 | International Telephone And Telegraph Corporation | Polarizing keying device for electrical connectors |
JP2607649Y2 (en) * | 1993-11-22 | 2002-03-04 | 日東工器株式会社 | Pipe fittings |
JP2605341Y2 (en) * | 1993-12-01 | 2000-07-10 | 株式会社ベンカン | Pipe fittings |
JP2002081589A (en) * | 2000-09-07 | 2002-03-22 | Nec Kyushu Ltd | Wrong connection preventing fluid connector |
JP4933108B2 (en) * | 2006-02-20 | 2012-05-16 | 東洋製罐株式会社 | Coupler |
CN104864209B (en) * | 2015-05-20 | 2016-11-02 | 山东航天电子技术研究所 | A kind of heavy caliber maintainable technology on-orbit fluid path disconnection device |
-
2018
- 2018-07-13 JP JP2018133180A patent/JP7168972B2/en active Active
-
2019
- 2019-05-17 TW TW108117134A patent/TWI834669B/en active
- 2019-06-14 US US16/441,328 patent/US11293575B2/en active Active
- 2019-06-27 KR KR1020190076882A patent/KR20200007654A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
Patent Citations (11)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2935338A (en) * | 1957-05-31 | 1960-05-03 | Bastian Blessing Co | Quick coupling |
US3287031A (en) * | 1964-09-21 | 1966-11-22 | William H Simmons | Indexed keyed connection |
US4139222A (en) * | 1977-04-22 | 1979-02-13 | Santa Fe International Corp. | Quick connect/disconnect coupling assembly |
US4211439A (en) * | 1978-07-26 | 1980-07-08 | Moldestad Jon P | Safety device for hose connections |
US6527305B1 (en) * | 1998-11-06 | 2003-03-04 | Kenneth Robert Smith | Fuel line coupling system |
US7014221B2 (en) * | 2002-12-26 | 2006-03-21 | Usui Kokusai Sangyo Kaishi Limited | Joint for piping |
US20090272450A1 (en) | 2005-12-05 | 2009-11-05 | Masahiro Hasunuma | Plug for fluid-transfer coupling device |
JP5046958B2 (en) | 2005-12-05 | 2012-10-10 | サーパス工業株式会社 | Plug for coupling device for fluid transfer |
US9291292B2 (en) * | 2006-03-02 | 2016-03-22 | Eaton Corporation | Keyed coupling assembly and kit |
US10711930B2 (en) * | 2009-12-09 | 2020-07-14 | Nordson Corporation | Releasable connection assembly |
US9157560B2 (en) * | 2010-12-10 | 2015-10-13 | LinkTech Quick Couplings Incorporated | Coupling assembly |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
JP7168972B2 (en) | 2022-11-10 |
TW202006285A (en) | 2020-02-01 |
US20200018434A1 (en) | 2020-01-16 |
KR20200007654A (en) | 2020-01-22 |
JP2020012477A (en) | 2020-01-23 |
TWI834669B (en) | 2024-03-11 |
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